Discontinued
Orion SkyQuest XT8: discontinued — what to buy instead
The XT8 was the default recommendation for a first serious telescope: an 8-inch Dobsonian for around $650. Orion's parent company ceased operations in July 2024, production stopped, and remaining retailer stock has sold through — listings you'll still find are typically out of stock or third-party resellers. Used examples do trade actively on the astronomy classifieds. If you want one new, these are the closest equivalents.
Closest alternatives in stock
Same optical type and within 60 mm of the Orion SkyQuest XT8's 203 mm aperture, ranked by $/mm — lower is more telescope per dollar.
| Telescope | Aperture | Price | $/mm | Mount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop DobsonianAmazon | 150 mm | $439 | $2.93 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
| Explore Scientific Firstlight 10" Solid Tube DobsonianOPT | 254 mm | $849 | $3.35 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
| Sky-Watcher Classic 200P f/5.9 Dobsonian TelescopeAmazon | 203 mm | $725 | $3.57 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
| Sky-Watcher Classic 10-Inch Dobsonian TelescopeAmazon | 254 mm | $1034 | $4.07 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
| Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P f/5.9 8" Dobsonian TelescopeAmazon | 203 mm | $850 | $4.19 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
| Explore Scientific 10" F/5 Dobsonian (Truss Tube)OPT | 254 mm | $1089 | $4.29 | Dobsonian | Amazon ↗ |
Buying a used one instead
Dobsonians age well — the mirror is the expensive part and it doesn't wear out. A used Orion SkyQuest XT8 in good condition is still a sound buy; the astronomy classifieds and auction sites are where they change hands. Check the mirror coating and that the focuser holds position. We don't track used listings, so the prices above are for new equivalents only.